NO Automatic loan cars

50Twuncle

My local Suzuki main dealers has told me that they DO NOT supply any Automatic cars as temporary loan cars when a customers car is off the road for any reason - my car is automatic - so when my car is being serviced - I am stuck !
The thing is that they are Motability dealers - which concerns me - because many motability cars are (obviously) automatic - Has anyone heard anything so stupid ?

bigisi

This should be on the 'Praise, Vents & Warnings' board.

AdrianC

Loan cars are provided within Motability if needed. They ask their customers to give dealers three weeks notice of a loan car being needed.
https://www.motability.co.uk/your-lease/temporary-replacement-vehicles/

Most Motability cars that are provided for the person with the entitlement to drive themselves will probably have other adaptations, anyway - and you wouldn't expect dealers to have those sitting around - while a lot of Motability cars are for family members to drive the person with the entitlement, because they simply can't drive themselves.

Is your car Motability, or are you just moaning?
Can you physically only drive an auto, or would you just prefer to?

50Twuncle

AdrianC wrote: »

Loan cars are provided within Motability if needed. They ask their customers to give dealers three weeks notice of a loan car being needed.
https://www.motability.co.uk/your-lease/temporary-replacement-vehicles/

Most Motability cars that are provided for the person with the entitlement to drive themselves will probably have other adaptations, anyway - and you wouldn't expect dealers to have those sitting around - while a lot of Motability cars are for family members to drive the person with the entitlement, because they simply can't drive themselves.

Is your car Motability, or are you just moaning?
Can you physically only drive an auto, or would you just prefer to?

Just moaning !
My own car is an automatic and whilst I can legally drive a manual - I have only driven automatics for 20 years - so would not like to drive a manual now !

DoaM

AdrianC wrote: »

Can you physically only drive an auto, or would you just prefer to?

I guess by this you mean - are you only licenced to drive an auto, and cannot legally drive a manual?

50Twuncle

DoaM wrote: »

I guess by this you mean - are you only licenced to drive an auto, and cannot legally drive a manual?

I can legally drive either - but would not feel safe driving a manual after 20 years
When I had my car serviced - I was told NO AUTOMATIC loan cars were available
Which made me concerned about motability drivers (hopefully including myself soon ?)

Herzlos

I don't think they have any obligation to provide a like for like courtesy car or any courtesy car at all. My local garage doesn't offer them, the others I've used only have a small pool so need to be booked weeks in advance.


If you need a car whilst yours is in, then you'd need to phone around and find a dealer that'll loan you one or hire one independently. You're easily looking at under £20/day for a small auto from most of the rental companies.

NaughtiusMaximus

AdrianC wrote: »

Most Motability cars that are provided for the person with the entitlement to drive themselves will probably have other adaptations, anyway

No they're not, the majority of motability cars aren't modified from manufacturer's spec.

neilmcl

NaughtiusMaximus wrote: »

No they're not, the majority of motability cars aren't modified from manufacturer's spec.

Only a small number of cars in comparison supplied by Motability are adapted in some way or other, most are standard spec.

chrisw

I had the opposite problem with a Volvo dealership.

They handed me the keys to an automatic loan vehicle. I couldn't work out how to start it, never mind drive the thing. After much complaining, they agreed to lend me a manual demonstrator vehicle.

AdrianC

DoaM wrote: »

I guess by this you mean - are you only licenced to drive an auto, and cannot legally drive a manual?

I wasn't, actually.

I was meaning whichever of the two ways.

- Not legal.
- Not physically able.

Since Twunc's confirmed that the answer is "no" to both, and it's merely that he'd prefer not to because his confidence is a bit wobbly since it's been a while...

Umm, sorry. Here's the keys to a manual, or here's the number for a taxi firm. Your choice.